Schalke 04 won the 2. Bundesliga last week with a 1-0 victory over Fortuna Düsseldorf, earning promotion back to the top flight. It is a remarkable turnaround for a club that came very close to dropping into the third division not long ago.
Schalke are a club with deep roots in the working-class community of Gelsenkirchen, a city shaped by coal mining and heavy industry. Their fans lit flares to celebrate the win, a fitting tribute to that heritage.
However, the club has had a very rough few years. Poor decisions by former chairman Clement Tönnies, who was caught up in racism and COVID-related scandals, did lasting damage. The end of their long-running shirt sponsorship with Gazprom, dropped after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, made things even harder financially. New chief executive Matthias Tillmann, who arrived in 2024, admitted the club had made serious mistakes, both on and off the pitch.
The biggest change this season has been at the back. Last season, Schalke conceded 62 goals. This season, they let in just 28, the fewest in the league, thanks largely to goalkeeper Loris Karius. Best known for his costly errors in the 2018 Champions League final, Karius has had an outstanding season, keeping 12 clean sheets and posting the best save rate among second-division goalkeepers. As one expert put it, without him, promotion simply would not have happened.
Up front, 40-year-old Edin Dzeko joined on a free transfer in January and chipped in with six goals, even setting the record as the oldest ever scorer in 2. Bundesliga history. Midfielder Kenan Karaman has arguably been the player of the season, while winter additions Adil Aouchiche and Soufian El-Faouzi have added real quality in midfield. Head coach Miron Muslic, signed for around £840,000 after being relegated with Plymouth Argyle, has been widely credited with lifting the mood at the club through clear, honest communication and high-intensity football.
Despite the celebrations, there are still serious challenges ahead. Schalke have very little money to spend in the summer transfer window, and keeping hold of key players, particularly striker Moussa Sylla, will be difficult. The immediate aim is straightforward: stay up and finish comfortably in mid-table. After everything the club has been through, that would be a solid foundation to build on.
